SS study guide

What is geography?

Study of the earth's surface and its features

What is a peninsula?

A piece of land surrounded by water on three sides

What is a plain?

A large area of flat land

What is rural?

Relating to the countryside or farming

What is urban?

Relating to a city or town

What were Ancient Greece and Rome?

Civilizations that existed in the Mediterranean region

What is an alliance?

A union or association formed for mutual benefit

What is cavalry?

Soldiers who fight on horseback

What is democracy?

A system of government by the whole population or all the eligible members of a state

What is mythology?

A collection of myths, especially one belonging to a particular religious or cultural tradition

What is oligarchy?

A small group of people having control of a country, organization, or institution

What is a tyrant?

A cruel and oppressive ruler

What is an aqueduct?

A structure that carries water over long distances

What are checks and balances?

A system that ensures no one branch of government has too much power

What is the Forum?

A public square or marketplace in ancient Rome

Who were patricians?

The wealthy, upper class in ancient Rome

Who were plebeians?

The common people in ancient Rome

What is a republic?

A form of government in which power is held by the people and their elected representatives

What is the Senate?

The upper house of the Roman Republic

What is a veto?

The power to reject a decision or proposal made by a law-making body

What is chivalry?

The medieval knightly system with its religious, moral, and social code

What is clergy?

The body of people ordained for religious duties, especially in the Christian Church

What is feudalism?

A system of government based on landowners and tenants

Who were knights?

Mounted warriors who served a lord

What is the Magna Carta?

A document signed by King John in 1215 that limited the power of the English monarchy

What is a manor?

A large estate owned by a lord or nobleman

What is medieval?

Relating to the Middle Ages

What are monasteries?

A building or buildings occupied by a community of monks living under religious vows

What is a serf?

A person who is bound to the land and owned by the feudal lord

What are vassals?

A holder of land by feudal tenure on conditions of homage and allegiance

What is the Catholic Reformation?

The period of Catholic resurgence initiated in response to the Protestant Reformation

What is federalism?

A system of government in which power is divided between a central authority and constituent political units

What is humanism?

A Renaissance cultural movement that emphasized human potential and achievements

Who were Protestants?

Christians who belonged to non-Catholic churches

What is the Reformation?

A 16th-century movement for the reform of the Catholic Church

What is the Renaissance?

A period of European cultural, artistic, and intellectual rebirth in the 14th-17th centuries

What were the European Revolutions?

A series of political upheavals in Europe in the 18th and 19th centuries

What is capitalism?

An economic system based on private ownership of the means of production and their operation for profit

What is conservatism?

A political philosophy that emphasizes tradition and social stability

What is the Enlightenment?

An intellectual and philosophical movement that dominated the world of ideas in Europe during the 18th century

What is the factory system?

A method of manufacturing using machinery and division of labor

What is liberalism?

A political philosophy based on liberty and equality

What is mercantilism?

An economic theory that emphasizes the importance of exports and the accumulation of wealth

What is nationalism?

A strong feeling of pride in and devotion to one's country

What are natural rights?

Rights that people supposedly have under natural law

What is popular sovereignty?

The principle that the authority of a state and its government are created and sustained by the consent of its people

What is the scientific method?

A systematic approach to discovering knowledge through observation and experimentation

What is the Holy Land/Jerusalem?

A region in the Middle East that is considered sacred by Jews, Christians, and Muslims

Who was Aristotle?

A Greek philosopher and scientist

Who was Plato?

A Greek philosopher and student of Socrates

Who was Socrates?

A Greek philosopher and teacher

Who was Julius Caesar?

A Roman general and statesman who played a critical role in the events that led to the demise of the Roman Republic and the rise of the Roman Empire

Who was Octavian?

The first Roman emperor, also known as Augustus

Who was Marc Antony?

A Roman politician and general who played a critical role in the events that led to the demise of the Roman Republic

What were the Crusades?

A series of religious wars fought between Christians and Muslims in the Middle Ages

Who were the Vikings?

Scandinavian seafarers who raided and traded in Europe from the late 8th to the early 11th century

What is Florence, Italy?

A city in central Italy known for its art and architecture

Who was Leonardo da Vinci?

An Italian artist, scientist, and inventor

Who was Michelangelo?

An Italian sculptor, painter, and architect

Who was Gutenberg?

A German inventor who developed the printing press

Who was Martin Luther?

A German monk who initiated the Protestant Reformation

Who was Voltaire?

A French Enlightenment writer, historian, and philosopher

Who was Rousseau?

A French philosopher, writer, and composer

Who was Locke?

An English philosopher and physician who is regarded as one of the most influential of Enlightenment thinkers

Who was Montesquieu?

A French lawyer, man of letters, and political philosopher who lived during the Age of Enlightenment

Who was Napoleon?

A French statesman and military leader who rose to prominence during the French Revolution and led several successful campaigns during the Revolutionary Wars

What is the smallest country by land area?

Vatican City

What is the largest country by both land area and population?

Russian Federation

What is the population ranking of Europe among all continents?

3rd

What are some ancient cultures that were based in Europe?

Greeks, Romans, Vikings

What are some natural resources found in Europe?

Fertile soil, natural gas, oil, iron ore, coal

What are some industries that Europe is known for?

Cars, electronics, textiles, steel machinery